Machine for applying gum and tape to paper-box blanks.



n. A. INMAN. MACHINE FOR APPLYING GUM AND TAPE T0 PAPER BOX BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13, 1913. 1,098,385, 7 Patented June 2,1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Inventor r Attorneys H. A. INMAN.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING GUM AND TAPE T0 PAPER BOX BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.13,1913. 1 @8 35 Patented June 2,1914.

- 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 7% 3f 53 Inventor l by Attorneys H. A. INMAN. MACHINE FOR APPLYING GUM AND TAPE T0 PAP APPLICATION FILED FEB.18, 1913.

BR BOX BLANKS.

Patented June 2, 1914.

4 8HEETSSHEET 3.

Inventor I Atco rneysv H. A. INMAN. MACHINE FOR APPLYIN G GUM AND TAPE TO PAPER BOX BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18, 1913.

Patented June 2, 1914.

4 SHEETS-$HEET 4.

S e s. s e n H w HARRY A. INIVIAN, F AMSTERDAM, NEW-YORK.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING GUM AND TAT-E1 T0 PAPER-BOX BLANKS.

To all whom, it may concern Be it. known that I, HARRY A. INMAN, a

citizen of the United States, residii'ig at i l- P?! the tape-which constitutes the handle there- Amsterdam, in the county of Montgomery and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Machine for Applying Gum and Tape to Paper-Box Blanks, 01" which the following is a specification.

vThe present invention relates to improvements in machines for applying gum and tape to paper box blanks, the primary object of the present invention being the provision ofmeans whereby a predetermlned length of tape which 'forms a flexible handle for a paper box is applied, such box being designed as an oyster or icecream box, the gain being previoiislyapplied to the blank for rctaining the tape and also for securing the overlapping portions of the blank 1n the finally folded box; I f e .A farther object of the present invention is-the, provisionpf a machine which gums the necessary flap of a box blank for the positioning thereto ot the ends of for, and Siniultaiieously applies asuliicient amount ofthe gum to permit of the proper assembling and securing of the overlapping portions otftlio'blank to produce the llilSllO (i box; m

A. still further object of the present. venlion is the-provision of novel mo 3 for retaining the. cut tape pro-purl positioned relalivelp to'theblank. so that when the same is attached to the blank, the noces--" sary. amount of SliltX is provided tol orn the finished flexible handle to the box.

A still furtlnr object olfthe present" inveut itm is tho provision oi'a novel means tor directii'w' the. end of the tapoagjainst the guiunicd side of'thc box and'malntanung the tape in such'posil'ion without Wiping or moving the 9minJ'Uliiil-YQLV tothe box so that the blank aftcrleaving the PPQStLlt' IHfh chine will have the tape adhesivcly thereto and be ready for rol'dingaii'd lllf". the ends of the tape beii'ig tttween the overlapping; portions or so as to be entirely concealed and be in place-by the meeting .or ovcrla yingportions A lleretoii'orc in applying tapes to boxes. the tape has been positioned. the handle slack produced by the moving mechanism. the

terminals of the tape punched through or ccured. ni sh- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ed une a, rate,

Application filed February 13, 1913. Serial No. 748,166.

l placed in position relatively, th the blank, land finally guinmed thcreagainst. This mode of operation is objectionable in that it is not continuous, and necessitates the placing by hand of the blank in position for receiving the punches and handle carrying members which linallyposition the terminals of the tape to be gnmmed against the terminals will depend across the slack maintaining means and in position to be finally throngh the machine upon the gunnned portion thereof, the continued movement of the blank out of lhe..machine causing the slacl: handle to be moved over the maintaining device without the danger of the handle being pulled therefrom, andthus rendering it unnecessary to provide separate mecha nisms for operating the slack maintaining LlOYlCQTiO and from the blank as the ordinary practice.

Yl'iththe foregoing and other objects in 1 view which will appear as the description ljrrorceds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangcn'ientof parts and in the l details of construction hereinafter described 1 and claimed, it being understood that i changes in the precise embodiment of the 1 invention herein disclosed can be. made Withg in the scope oi: what is claimed without de- 1 parting trom the spirit of the invention. L in the drainiii- -l igni'e l is a side ele-- l l l vation of the complete machine taken from 'tho rig-ht han-dside thereof. Fig. '2 is a sec-.

Fig. i

e 1, l the positioning Ol tne tape thereupon. ig,

g'mn the blank, and While the sameninran .sratrs a rnnr orrion blank, thus rendering it necessary to remove of tape, the tapebeing cut so that the free wiped as the blank continues in its passage 7 is aperspectiveview of the tape feeding mechanism. Fig. S is an enlarged view showing the means for connecting and dis connecting the power wheel from the power shaft of the machine. Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are other views thereof. Fig. 12 is a bottom plan View of a gummed blank previous to the attachment of the tape thereto. Fig. 13 is a section through the portion of the blank when folded showing the position of the tape therebetwcen.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the standards or legs, which support the open bed plate or platform 2, which has upstanding therefrom at one end the four osts 3 and 4, which support the blank guiding shelf 5, there being positioned at theextreme end of the shelf 5, the blank holding table 6, from which the blanks B are fed one at a time by hand upon the shelf 5 in front. ofdhe feeding plate or follower '5'. This feeding plate or follower 7 is mounted for longitudinal movement upon the shelf 5 and is provided with the apertured log 8. which is connected through the link 9 to the arm 9 of the rock shaft 10. The rock shaft 10 is journaled upon the base 2 at one end thereof and is provided with the crank 11 which is connected through the link 12 and pin 13 to the gear 14-, which is rotatable with the main drive shaft 15 of the machine. By this means the rotation of the gear 14 will impart the desired reciprocatory movement to the follower 7 and thus feed the blank B upon theshelf 5 to the gumming and tap pin mechanism, as will presently appear.

T e drive shaft 15 is journaled intermcdiate of the two standards 16 and 17, said standards being supported from the base plate 2 and as clearly shown in Fig. 2 re ceives its motion from the pulley 18, which is connected to the shaft 15 through the pawl 19 and ratchet teeth 21, said pawl and ratchet teeth constituting a clutch mechanism, wherebythe wheel 18 may be disposed to rotate freely or transmit rotation to the. drive shaft 15. The stop 20 provides a. limiting means for the pawl 19, while the reciprocatory pin 22, which is mounted in the standard 16 and the bracket 23, provides a-means foractuating the pawl 19 into and out of engagement with the teeth 21, there being provided an arm 24-, which is keyed upon and operated by the rock shaft 25. This rock shaft has keyed upon its free end at the forward portion of the bed plate 2- an arm 26, which is operated through the flexible connection 27 guided over the guide pulley 28 by the foot treadle 29, there being I rovided a spring 30, to normally elevate t e foot treadle 29, and thus hold the pin 22 in pawl engaging position so that assoon as the foot treadle 29 is released, the pawl 19 will be moved from engagement with the teeth 21 so that the drive pulley 18 may rotate freely without afl'eetmg the drive shaft 15.

Keyed upon for rotation with the drive shaft lo, in. spaced relation and between the standards 16. and 17 are the sleeves 31 of the two gumming members 32, each one of which provided with the segmental gunrreceiving surface and constitutes a cam shaped .member, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. Setin the outer surface of the segmental portion of each of the members 32, are the two gunnning strips 33 and 34, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, which constitute means for receiving the gum to a )ply the same in conformity to the outline o the strips 93 and H to ta pereceiving side wings I) and the two bottom flaps 11 of the blank B as clearly illustrated in Fig. 12.

Meshing with the gear l t at the same side of the machire therewith is an upper gear 35. which keyed upon the upper shaft 36, said shaft 3; being ournaled in the standards lo and 17 above the shaft 15. and havingiuounted thereon the two outer rollers 37 and the central roller 38, said outer roll-' ms 37 enacting with the gumming memhere 32 to assist in holding the flaps of the blank downwardly upon the gummmg members as the blank i fed through the machine through the instrunlentality of the central roller 39 of the shaft 15 and the rollers 37 and 38 of the upper shaft 36. Keyed upon the outer end of the shaft 36 is a hand wheel 40, by means of which the mechanism may be operated manually when necessary, as for instance when receiving a misplaced blank or a blank which is maintained be tween the rollers at the stoppage of the machine.

In order to provide a means for supplying the necessary tape to form the tape bail T, as illustrated in Fig. 6, a pair of apertured brackets 41 are disposed at one side of the bed plate 2, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4,,

oted arm 45, said arm being normally held in the position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 by gravity and thus unwinds the tape 43 as desired during the various operations necessary to deliver and cut the tape. The tape 43 is led upwardly as illustrated in Fig. 3 over the roller 40 and through the aperture 47 of the standard 16, and below the gravity clamping device 48, which is pivot ed in the standard 16 within the aperture -17.

In order to provide a means for feeding the free end of tape transversely of the machine, the clamp -19 is en'iployed and has eoactively disposed thereto the pivoted jaw or plate fiO, which as shown is carried in the depending member 51 of the slidahle block This block 52 is provided with the two parallel bores 56, which fit upon and sureaid plate extreme free end of the arm or lever 45, said lever- 45 being of Isutlieient weight to, when releaeed, as will presently appear, tall and pull a length of tape from the reel while the free endis bein l'lPpQd by the 'ravity clamp 1-8. a

'In order to adjuel the movement of the block npon the rods 57, an adjustable blot-k 59 is provided and maintained in the necessary adjustment by nieanspl' the set screws (30, as clearly illuetrated in Fig. 3, While. in order to. reciprocate the block 52 traneversel of the machine as viewed in Fig. 3 and thus to feed the tape transreisely of the machine for positioning above the blank B, a link Bl ie pivotallv 'eonnoltetl to the rear face of the block 52 and has its outer free end pivotal-.1) connected in the upper end of the lever 62, said lever 62 having its ,lower end pivoted'ae at 63 to the depending arm 64, said arm G l being; connected to and supported from the bed plate 2 of the machine. This lever 2 is provided with the anti-iirietional pin {35, which is disposed to slide within the cam groove 66 of the wheel '63, eaid wheelfl'l being keyed upon and rotatable with the shaft 67 which, as shown is journaled in the two brackets lBSand inthe upper end of the supporting pedestal 69; This shaft GT provided with, a gear 70, which receives motioni'rom the gear 1% through the intermediate gear so that the shaft GT is retated in eonsonance with the drive shaft 13 and the necessary movement is imparted to the lever 62 to reciprocate the bloek 52 transversely of the machine from tape feeding to tape receiving pesition. Secured by a set screw to the plate 58 is a stop T2, which coacts with the free end. T 1 of the pivoted jaw 500i the clamping derire to depress the free end and thu Qltl'ztli he gripping end of theelainping plate 10 to release the end of the tape when diepowd in the necessary position above the blank ill 73 being provided with an aperl l l a l l l i l 1 l lure 76; through. which Pl'tllOL-flfi the heel-ml;

upper end of the spring i-ateli TD, will ran-h being also provnlgd with the \dujilimnh 7l-. which is dieposed lo lit within the slot T6 of the plate T3 when tee same i; de-

pressed by the stop 72 and thin? maintainthe clamp in open position when moved troin right to left or frointape relatrang to tape receiving position. In order to provide a means for releasing; the catch so that the end of thetape the left hand side of the machine may be gripped by the clamp, when t 1e block 52 is in extreme return poeilion, an arm T7 is carried by the l)l0:l( and is disposed in the path to engage the hooked end of the catch 75 so as toinove the seine from the position Fig. 10 to the position Fig. 9 and thus permit the spring '78 disposed upon the guiding pm 77 to more the clamping end of the movable aw 50 into (reactive relation and upon the tape within the jaws 19 and 50.

The operation of the tape feeding clamp and the slack forming lever 45) is clearly apparent, but it will be noted that when the lever (52 is actuated to be moved to the right" as viewed in Fig. that the. block will be moved to the right and carry with it the clamp which has engaged the free end of the tape 4.3, thus carrying thetape transversely of the marhine'and over to a point beyond the center of the right hand gum applying member 32, UHF? actionca'nsing through the pulling upon of the flexible conne'ctlonl the elevation of the slaclrforniing and takf ing up lever thus elevating such lever so that as soon the tape has been cut, as Will presently appear and the block returnedthrough the lever 62 to its extreme left. position, the lever 4-5 will fall grav -f ity, and as the catch 48 has gripped the free end of the tape l3, atthe point of'passag'e through the aperture l7, due to the cam ael tion thereof and the slight retrograde movement; of the tape, said lever 4-5 will slide downwardly upon the tape and tin: un-

wind a. certain amountfrom the spool so that lhe parts will he. in the next proper ptmtion for feeding the next length of tape.

The stop Ti -at or ehorlly after the cutting oi the tape will operate-the clamp to release the end of lhe tape so that the clamp will he returned in open position as before deeoribed to bereleaecd toene'a re the free end ollthe' tape which is held by theelanrp 43 in the path to be engaged by the clamp arried by the bloeleJiZ, the arm 77 as de; SLfilllWl releasing" the clamp carried by the blot-l; 52 so as to engage sneh free end of the tape and thus permit the proper feediue' of a predetermined length for the next bail or ham lo. ,i

The lll9('lillll-l. lll tor cutting the lapeiall cr the same hmfhoen fed transversely of the machine in lhe'posilioni for beingeonnected to the blank J3, ()UlblSlS of a lever'lll, which 5 pivoted to the inneri'aee of the standard 8 and ttlt't'ltlr; upon its iree end the. antrfruztionalrollcr bl. which is disposed in-the path to be engaged by the cam ozkeyed upon and rotatable with rho main drive shaft 15. h is depreeeed at the proper time, and dethis meansthe free end of the lever 79 $6 tape have been moved beyond the bridgingl presses the link 83, which is connected to the ower cutting member 84"-whieh is geared to the upper cutting member 85,"'so that the two blades 86-80'are brought into cone-titan upon each side of the tape '1 so as to sever the end at the extreme left of the blank as viewed in Fig. 3, the spring 86 connected to the upper cutting member 85 returning the cutting members to open position and at the same time elevating the lever 79 after being released by the cam 82. The cutting of the tape by the cutters 8686, frees the end adjacent the aperture 47, but as the catch 48 is actuated by gravity and is normally in the position as shown in Fi 3, the slight retrograde movement imparted to the tape due to the severance thereof will cause the catch 48 to move to the left as viewed in Fig. 3 and thus clamp the tape downwardly upon the adjacent portion of the standard 16 and thus hold the free end in the position to be again engaged by the clamp carried by the block 52.

The mechanisn'i for properly disposing the tape so that the terminals thereof as shown in Fig. 6, will fit astrideof the slack main-- taining plate 91, for proper position upon the flaps 17, consists of an arm or link 87 carried by and operable from the lever 79, said link 87 having its upper end connected to the crank arm 88 of the rock shaft 89. This rock shaft 80, is provided with the two lingers 90, one to each terminal of the tape '1, and so disposed that at the proper time, they move the terminals downwardly upon each side of the opposite edges of the slack maintaining plate 91 so that such terminals will be presented in the path of the forward edges of the flaps Z) of the blank B, during the passage of the blank through the machine and after the action of'the gum ming members upon the under side of the flaps I). In order to provide a. means for wiping or disposing the extreme terminals in such dependent )USllilOll up against the under side of the aps b and against the gummed portion thereof, a cam 03 is keyed upon and rotatable with the lower shaft- 07, and acts upon the anti-frictional roller 94 carried in the free end of the levers 05. These levers 95 are pivoted at 06 to the bed plate 2, and carry the two u standing arms 97, whose terminals 98 are 0 set to abut the depending ends or terminals of the tape T andmove the same upwardly and against the under side of the flaps Z), said terminals being held in such position so that as the blank B is moved toward the outlet of the machine, the offset ends 98 will press the tape securely against the under side of the flaps b, but at not such a. pressure as to cause the tape to be pulled or slid toward the flaps b said offset 98 being not released from the blank until the terminals of the piece 98 disposed transversely of the maohine and beyond the offset ends 98. Two rods 90 are disposed above the transverse rod 98, upon each side of the roller 115 and at a point before the blank reaches: such roller and thus provides a means to hold the blank downwardly upon the open frame portion or shelf of the machine and insure the delivery of such blank below the slack maintaining plate 01. These rods 90 are constructed to form an open loop of flat metal, the under face of which is parallel to the upper face of the blank guidin shelf or portion of the frame. It will tins be seen that the terminals of the tape are wiped against the gummed portion of the flaps b, and that to a certain'extent the gum or adhesive is caused to be compressed through the body of the tape so that the tape adja cent the flaps b is saturated with the gum and will when the blank is finally formed into box shape, engage the adjacent face of the flaps b (Fig. 13), so that the ends of the tape will be securely fastened between the flaps b and 6' while the remaining gummed portion of the flaps b will be disposed ooextensive with and adhesively to the flaps b 101. into which the roller 39 projects, the adhesive receiving members 32 being disposed to be immersed within the fluid adhesive or gum parried in the outer compartments of the tank, the lower wall of the tank being inclined and being provided with the steam jacket 102, whereby the gum or adhesive is maintained at the desiied fluidity.

In order to provide a means for wiping the surplus gum or adhesive from the gum applying portions 33 and 34 of the gummin members 32, two brackets 1.03 are connecte to the under side of the guiding shelf 5, and each has mounted therein a pm 104, which rarrics the bracket 105, said bracket 105 having attached thereto the wiping member 106, ,which is guided in its movements into flexible or yielding engagement with the gumming member 32 through the medium of the sleeve or plate 107, all as clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

Keyed upon the drive shaft 15 adjacent one face of the standard 17, is a sprocket wheel 108, which has trained thereover a sprocket chain 109, which transmits motion from the sprocket wheel 108 to the sprocket wheel 110 keyed upon the shaft 111, said shaft 111 being mounted between the posts 80-80 and constituting a means for carrying the gummed and tape blank away from the machine.

A roller 112 is keyed upon and rotatable with the shaft 111 between the standards 80 and 8,0 and has disposed thereabove and in coactive relation thereto, a roller 113 mountdisposed withinsthe upper ends of the stand ards 80-8() and is normally held down- Wardly by gravity, the same fitting between the cut-out ends 92' of the resilient tape maintainingplate 9-1 and of such a width as to engage tl'iecentral portion of the blank B without interfering with the gum carried thereby. The roller 111 is of the same width as the roller 1 1,3, and engages the under side of the blank 13;

To carry the gummed blank away from the machlne, an endless belt 115 1s disposed,

aboutthe roller 112, and the roller 116 carried in the upper end of the pedestal 117, the said belt 115 being thus moved due to the rotation of the roller 112 carrying the blank away from the machine to beplaced in thevfin al folding" and finishing machine.

Fromthe foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the operation of the present device is readily understood,

but briefly stated it is as tollo s:Ihe uppermost bla k B upon the'table 6 is fed by handand isposed upon the shelf 5 in front of the follower 7, said follower 7 be ing moved upon the shelf 5 to -feed theblank forwardly and between the rollers 38 and 39 which constitute the main feeding rollers, said main teeding' rollers being disposed in the path to engrage'the central portion of the so thatthe proper time deliver the gum to the under side 01'' the flaps Z)'ZF, the portion 33 supplying the gum to the flaps li while the Portion. 34 supplies the'gum to the -smaller flap b As the members 32 are only segmental members,

they recede from the blank B as the flaps 17 approach so-that no gum is placed upon 'tbc' flap h r e 8 1 With the member 32 to; maintain the fla b'" downwardly and upon the gum'ming members 32, so that the'proper amount of gum is applied thereto. The continued movement of the blank to the right of the machine as viewed in Fig.1 1, causes the same to pass below the supported end of the tape receiving and slack maintaining plate 91', at which time the tape T is fed transversely of the machine sothat the main body thereof is disposed above the plate 91 as viewed in Fig. ('3, so that when the cutters 86'8.6 are operated to sever the tape, the terminals of the tape will. fall an d be pushed downwardly the arms 90 and beina position to be wiped against the under side of the flaps bf, as before described, The continued movementot the blank carries with it the tape,

over the inclined resilio'ntt "supportina plate 91, inclined toward. the outletj 'end of the machine, so that when the tape is delivered to the lower recessed (21141132 thereof, and passes between the belt 115 and roller 113, the tape will be m-operly secured to the flapsb' and connected to the will notbe pulled therefrom in the passage of the blank between the rollers 112 and 113 and upon the delivery belt 115.

As before described, the cutting members 86-86 and the tape maintaining finger 98 are operated at the proper time, the cutting members St-8G acting before the full de: pr'e'ssion of the fingers 90 and 98 so that the terminals of the tape '1 are properly wiped and held against the gunnned'portion of the flaps'b and for a sulllcient period to insure the'proper saturation of such terminals and the adhering thereof to the flaps 7).

What is claimedis: y

1. In a machine of this character, he combination with mechanism for i applying gum to a blank and feeding the blank through the machine, of tape applying mechanism, including means for receiving the cut tape and suspending the free terminals thereof in alinement with the gummed portion of the moving blank, and means for wiping thefree terminals of the out tape against the gummed portion ot-the blank in transit.

.2. In a machine of this character, the combination with mechanism for applying gum to a blank and for feeding the blank through the machine, of tape feeding mechanism for placin the tape transversely across the blank, means for receiving the cut tape and-maintaining the central portiOn thereof spaccdly above the blank, tape cutting mechanism for severing'the tape and permitting the free ends to depend one upon each side or the slack maintaining device, and means for wiping the tree terminals of the tape upon the gummed portions of the blank while in transit.

3. In a machine of this character, a bed plate, a main drive shaft mounted upon the bed plate,,gu n carrying and applying members mounted upon the main. drive shaft, a second shaft journaled above and operably connected to the drive shaft, cooperating feed rollers carried by both of said shafts, tape feeding mechanism operably connected to the drive shaft, tape cutting mechanism also operably connected to the drive shaft, and mechanism for attaching the .cut tape at two points to the blank also operably connected to the drive shaft. 4

4. In a machine of the character described, a bed plate, amain dr ve shaft mounted .upon the bed plate, gum carrying and applyingz members mounted upon the main drive shaft, a seco'id shaft journaled above and operably connected to the drive shaft cooperatingz feed rollerscarried by both of said shafts tape feeding mechanism opal-ably drive shaft, tape cutting;

"""ed from the drive inn; thecut tape also operably mechanism shaft, nicclian a nd mechanism 1 for feeding the taped and gummed blanks away from the machine also operably connected to the drive shaft.

In a machine of the character described, a bed plate, a main drive shaft mounted ,on the bed plate, gum carrying and app ying members mounted upon the mam drive shaft, a second shaft journaled above and operably connected to the drive shaft, coo rating feed rollers carried by both of sai shafts, tape feeding mechanism operably connected to the drive shaft, tape cutting mechanism also operably connected to the drive shaft, mechanism for attachi the cut tape at two points to the blank also operably connected to the drive shaft, mechanism for feeding the taped and gummed blanks away from the machine also operahly connected to the drive shaft, and means for receiving the cut tape to maintain a handle slack therein during the passage of the blank from the gumming members to the last mentioned means.

6. In a machine of this character, the combination with a blank gumming and tape applying mechanism, of a tape feeding and cuttin mechanism, including a transversely reciprocatory tape engaging and releasing device, adjustab e means for releasthe same at a predetermined point and a er the feeding t ereof across the blank, a fixed slack formin and tape suspending means, a cutting mec anism operated to cut the tape after the tape has been disposed across the slack forming and suspending means and the blank, gravity actuated means for preventing a retrograde movement of the free end of the tape after the length has been severed therefrom, and means for operating the tape engaging and releasing device to engage the free end for the next feeding operation.

7. In a machine of this character, the combination with blank feeding gumming and'tape a plying mechanisms, of a tape feedingan cutting mechanism, including atransversely reciprocatory tape engaging and releasing device, means for releasing the same at it predetermined point and after the feeding thereof across the blank, a cutting mechanism operated to cut the tape after the tape has beeu,disposed across the blank, means for preventing a retrograde movement of the free end of theta e after the length has been severed there rom, means for (:per'ating the tape engaging'and releasing evice to engage the free end for the next feeding operation, and cooperating means operated after the cutting of the tape to press the terminals of thecut ta e into engagement with the blahk'during the movement of the blank through the machine,

8. In a machine of this character, the combination with a blank feeding, gumming and tape applying mechanism, of a tape feeding and cutting mechanism, ihcluding a transversely reciprocatory tape engaging and releasing device, means forreleaslng the same at a predetermined omt and after the feeding thereof across t e blank, means to receive and maintain a handle slack in the tape, with the terminals thereof depending and 'free, -a cutting mechanism operated to cut theta c after the tape has been disposed across t l6 slack maintaining means and the blank,

means for preventing a retrograde movement of the free end of the tape after the length has, been severed therefrom, and means for o ra'tingthe tape enga ing and releasing evice to engage the fi ee end for the next feeding operation.

9. In a machine of this character, the combination with blank feeding, gumming and tape applying mechanisms, of a tape feeding and cuttingmechanism, including a transversely reciprocatory tape engaging and releasing device, means for releasing the same at a predetermined point and after the feeding thereof across the blank, a cut ting mechanism operated to cut the tape after the tape has been disposed across tie blank, means for preventin a retrograde movement of the free end 0 the tape after the length has been severed therefrom, means for operating the tape engagingand releasing device to engage the free end for the next feeding operation, cooperating means operated after the cutting of the tape to press the terminals of the cut tape into engagement with the blank during the movement of the blank through the machine, and means disposed in the path to receive the cut tape to maintain a handle slack therein during the attaching ofthe tape to the blank and the feeding of the blank from the.'machine.

10. In a machine of this character, the combination with a blank feeding, umming and tape applyinganechanism, o a tape feeding and cutting mechanism, including a transversely reciprocatory" tape engaging and releasing device, 'means fdr releasing the same at a predetermined point and after the feeding thereof across the blank, a haildle slack forming means disposed in the path to receive the tape after being released, a cutting tape after the tape has been disposed across the handle slack forming means and the blank, means for preventin a retrograde movement of the free end 0 the tape after the length has been severed therefrom, andmeans for operating the tape engaging and releasing device to engage the free end for the next feedin operation.

11. In a ma hine of this character, the combination with a blank feeding, gumming and tape ap; lying mechanisms, of a tape feeding and cutting mechanism including a transversely reciprocatory tape engaging mechanism operated to cut the and releasing device, means for releasing the same at a predetermined point and after the feeding thereof across the blank, a. cutting mechanism operated to cut the tape after the tape has been disposed across the blank, means f rpreventing a retrograde movement of the free end after the length has been severed therefrom, means for operat ing the tape engaging and releasing device to engage the free end for the next feeding operation, cooperating means operated after the cutting of the tape to press the terminals of the cut tape into engagement with the blank during the movement of the blank through the machine, and resilient means disposed in the path to receive the cut tape to maintain a handle slack therein during the attaching of the tape to the handle and the feeding of the blank from the machine.

12 In a machine of this character, a supporting frame, a drive shaft journaled therein, a second shaft operably connected to the drive shaft, cooperative gum supplying and blank feeding means carried by both shafts, ta pc feeding mechanism operably connected to theglrive shaft for feeding the tape transversely to the machine, a tape cutting mechanism also operated from the drive shaft,

' and tape applying mechanism also operated all from the drive shaft, said tape applying mechanism being operated to apply the cut tape during the passage of a blank through the machine.

13. In a machine of this character, the combination with a blank feeding mechanism, a gumming mechanism and tape feeding and cutting mechanism, of means for receiving the tape and maintaining a handle slack therein, and means for wiping the terminals of the tape upon 'the gummed portion of the blank during the passage of the blank through the machine.

14.. In a machine of this character, the combination with a blank gumming mechanism and tape feeding and cutting mechanism, of fixed means for receiving the tape and maintaining a handle slack therein with the terminals depending and free, and cooperative means disposed to engage both sides of the blank and the free ends of the tape for Wiping the free ends of the tape against previously gummed blank.

15. In aumachine of this character, the

combination with a blank feeding mechanism, a gumming mechanism and tape feeding and cutting mechanism, of resilient means for receiving the tape and maintaining a handle slack therein, and means disposed for wiping the terminals of the tape upon the gummed portion of the blank dun ing the passage of the blank through the machine.

16. In a machine of this character, the combination with a gumming mechanism and tape feeding and cutting mechanism, of relatively fixed resilient means for receiving the tape and maintaining a handle slack therein with the two ends depending and free, and cooperative means disposed to engage both sides of the blank and the free ends of the tape for wiping snch ends into adhesive engagement with the gannmed blank.

17. In a machine of this"character, the combination with a blank feeding mechanism, a gnmming mechanism and tape feeding and cutting mechanism, of means for receiving the tape and maintaining a handle slack therein, means for wiping the ten minals of the tape upon the gummed portion of the blank during the passage of the blank through the machine, and means for gripping the blank and feeding the same through the machine after the attachment of the tape to the blank.

18. In a machine of this character, the combinationwith a frame, a main drive shaft, a blank feeding means operably connected to the drive shaft, blank gumming and feeding mechanism operably connected to and carried by the driveshaft. tape feeding mechanism operably connected to the drive shaft, tape cut-ting mechanism also operably connected tothe drive shaft, mechanism for attaching two ends of a cut tape to the blank, and mechanism operably connected to the drive shaft for feeding the taped blank away from the machine.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY A. INMAN.

Witnesses CHAS. E. HARDIES, WV. H. INMAN. 

